Barbara Mikulski: “I rise tonight along with my colleagues Senator Allard and Senator Durbin to speak in support of an amendment we…”

“I rise tonight along with my colleagues Senator Allard and Senator Durbin to speak in support of an amendment we introduced today to the Emergency Supplemental bill. This amendment provides $27.6 million in Federal funds to repair unsafe working conditions in the tunnels below the Capitol Building. This amendment is needed now because the Architect of the Capitol has failed to ameliorate hazardous conditions that exist in the tunnels beneath the Capitol. These conditions endanger the health of the tunnel workers and their families. Something needs to be done, and it needs to be done now. That is why I am co-sponsoring this amendment. I first learned of these horrible conditions when I received a letter signed by 10 members of the tunnel shop that detailed the dangerous conditions that exist in the tunnels, and provided information that some of these conditions have existed for at least 6 years. There is no doubt, many of problems in the tunnels have only worsened during that period from neglect and further deterioration. Despite this, no action was taken to make sure the workers were safe on the job. The conditions are so poor that in 2000 the Congressional Office of Compliance issued citations to the Architect of the Capitol. Yet, it appears the Architect of the Capitol ignored the citations and did not make the necessary repairs or take immediate, effective steps to protect these workers.…”